Method of and apparatus for concentrating sulphuric acid



(No Model.) -3 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. HOWARD. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORGONGENTRATING SULPHURIG ACID.

Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

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(No Model.) 3 Shets-Sheet H. HOWARD. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOROONGENTRATING SULPHURIG AGID No. 509,664. Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

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S TATES llmrn J. A'rEN'r Fries,

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING SULPHURIC ACID.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,664, dated November28, 1893.

Application filed December 2,1892. Serial No- 4 1 (N0 m To all whom itmay concern.-

l3e it known that I, HENRY HOWARD, of Longwood, Brookline, in the countyof Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for ConcentratingSulphuric Acid, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a method or process andmeans whereby a product of absolutely uniform strength in theconcentration of sulfuric acid maybe secu red.

In carrying out my invention 1 make use of the varying density of thedistillate or condensed vapor, or such portion thereof as can readily becollected and employed from the finishing still, to regulate the flow ofacid from the lead pans or other vessels to the finishing stills.

The invention consists in the art of automatically regulating the flowof sulfuric acid through the concentrating apparatus, by the employmentof the varying density of the condensed vapor or distillate, or aportion thereof, produced by the acid or other fluid in the process ofconcentration, whereby a product of absolutely uniform strength isobtained.

The invention also consists of an automatic regulator, for use in theconcentration of sulfuric acid to oil of vitriol, comprising in itsconstruction a supply vessel provided with a valve-controlled portthrough which the finishing stills or retorts are supplied, adistillate-receiving vessel provided with a conduit communicating withthe finishing still through which the latter vessel may be supplied withthe distillate or condensed vapor coming from the finishing still, and afloat in the said distillate-receiving vessel connected with the valvein the supply vessel, whereby the varying density or specific gravity ofthe distillate collected in the distillate-receiving Vessel may operateto vary the degree to which the ports are opened in the supply vessel,and so regulate the supply of acid to the finishing retort, all as Iwill now proceed to describe and claim.

Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings and to the letters andfigures marked thereon forming a part of this specification, the sameletters and figures designating the same parts or features, as the casemaybe, wherever they occur.

Figure 1, is a side View of an apparatus which may be employed inconnection with, and in the carrying out of my improvements. Fig. 2, isa sectional view through the supply and distillate-receiving vessels andtheir adjuncts. Fig. 3, is a perspective view of thedistillate-receiving vessel and a gaging or registering vessel connectedtherewith. Fig. 4:, is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, of one ofthe ports and valves in the supply vessel. Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional view of the body of the finishing still shown in Fig. 1, drawnto an enlarged scale.

In the drawings,a designates a lead pan or other vessel, from which theacid may be conducted by means of a siphon l) to the supply vessel 0',divided bya horizontal partition into two chambers 61 and e,communication between which is had through ports f f controlled byfrusto-conical valves 9 g, reversely arranged as shown. The said valvesmay be made of lead or of any suitable substance, and may or may not becovered with platinum, or other substance, as shown.

72 h are the valve seats, which may also be of platinum or equivalentmaterial, which valve seats are suitably supported in the ports f.

The valves g g are connected by means of stems and other suitabledevices with a lever i balanced on a knife-edge or other means as at j.Turn buckles 7t 7a or equivalent devices may be employed for adj ustablyconnecting the valves with the said lever. The acid is siphoned orotherwise conveyed into the up per chamber 01 so as to keep the latterat all times substantially full. The said acid flows thence through theportsf to the chamber 6 and is supplied from the latter to the finishingstills or retorts Z Z of common form and construction, through theconduit m.

n is what may be termed a distillate-receiv-- ing vessel which may beconstructed of any suitable substance and in any suitable form. Asherein shown it consists of a U-shaped tube, to one arm or member 0 ofwhich, the distillate or fluid is supplied from the finishing stills,and in the other arm or member 11 of which is arranged a float qconnected by a suitable wire 4*, with the outer end of the lever t'. Itwill now be seen that as the density of the fluid or distillate in thedistillate-receiving vessel is increased in density or specific gravity,the float q will be raised accordingly, and the valves 9 will beoperated through the medium of the lever z to open the portsfto anextent corresponding to the degree of density of the distillate, and asthe density of the said distillate is lowered the said ports will be inlike manner, and through the same means, correspondingly closed; and inthis way the finishing stills or retorts will be supplied so as to keepthe product at a uniform degree of density. 7

The invention may be employed in connection with any known form ofstill, but as platinum stills are the more commonly used, I have chosento represent my invention in connection therewith, and to show theregulator as located between the lead pans a (which always have a goodsupply of acid in them) and the still Z.

This still in which there is nothing new comprises in its construction ajacket or dome 8 down over the outside of which water is caused to flowto cool the jacket, the water being collected in the uppermost of theannular troughs 2 and overflowing therefrom to the next trough below,being finally led or drawn ofi from the bottom trough in the usual way.

I. is a liquid seal arranged below the bottom annular trough 2, intowhich the distillate which collects on the interior surface of the dome8 runs, the said distillate being guided by adhesion down the interiorsurface of the dome into the lute. In stills of this kind as a matter ofconvenience, I may make use of that portion only of the distillate whichcondenses on the water-jacket dome 3 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1),and runs down into the liquid seal t of the still, from-whence it isconducted through the conduit 'u to the arm 0 of thedistillate-receiving vessel. In cases where a platinum cover to thestill is used the distillate from the condenser may be employed, itbeing a matter of no importance to my invention from whence thedistillate is collected or whether all or a portion only of the same isemployed. The distillate in any case is an exceedingly delicateindicator of the strength of the oii of vitriol in the still, since avariation of .01 Baum in the strength of the acid would at once producea change of 10 to 15 Baum in the strength of the distillate. If desired,the

overflow from the distillate-receiving vessel may be received into avessel 0 provided with an indicator w to show the density or specificgravity of the distillate.

I do not confine my invention to use in connection with the process ofand means for concentrating sulfuric acid to oil of vitriol, since it isobvious that it may be employed in connection with other concentratingor distilling operations; nor do I confine myself to the form andarrangement of devices shown, since these may be changed to suitcircumstances.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way ofconstructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forthall of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use,it is declared that what is claimed is- 1. The art of automaticallyregulating the flow of sulfuric acid through the concentrat- -ingapparatus, consisting in collecting the whole or a portion of thecondensed vapor or distillate and conveying the same to a point where itmay operate upon the means for controlling the flow of the sulfuric acidor other fluid in process of concentration and causing it to actthroughvariationsin its specific gravity upon said means wherebyaproduct of uniform strength is obtained.

2. Anautomatic regulator for use in the concentration of sulfuric acid,comprising in its construction a valve for governing the supply to thestill, controlling devices for actuating the said valve, means forcollecting the distillate and conveying the same to a point where it maybe adapted to act upon the said valve-controlling devices, as set forth.

3. An automatic regulator for use in the concentration of sulfuric acid,comprising in its construction a supply vessel provided with avalve-controlled port for supplying the concentrating apparatus, adistillate-receiving vessel, a conduit communicating between the lattervessel and the concentrating apparatus, and a Heat in thedistillate-receiving vessel connected with the valve'in the supplyvessel to regulate and control the said valves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 19th day of November, A. D.1892.

HENRY HOWARD.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. ORossLEY, F. M. WHIPPLE.

